Player Inclusion

So recently I was playing another MMO. For the sake of discussion, we’ll call it “Build S’mores Too.” You see, the folks behind BST are beginning to make good on their promise of releasing monthly content, or at least have for two straight months after nothing the opening month -which makes sense. After all, there’s more than enough to do the opening month of an MMO. I missed the first event, which was centered around Hallowe’en and according to the rave reviews is unfortunate for me. But, I wasn’t missing this one. Okay, actually, I did miss the kickoff to each phase because of real life. But, I did find time to take part in the actual goings on. Considering I’m level 16 and the content is endgame, or level 80, that is no doubt a head scratcher.

Really it isn’t, because the Build S’mores Too folks are wise you see. They introduced this content for level 80, but any character in the game could take part. See in order to access the content you had to hop on a boat, which took you to the new island. Anyone who went to the island was level 80 while in the zone. What a novel concept! This genuinely floored me. A company taking endgame content, prevalent to their story and lore, and making sure no one got excluded. I’m still amazed. Even after the event the island is still there, and as of yesterday I was still 80 while I was there. I’ve since gained two levels in doing so, which is an equal bonus. Yes, you read that correct as well. Not only did the game boost my abilities to level 80 (though I didn’t learn any new ones in the process), I still gained experience appropriate to my true level while doing so.

This is something our friends at Blizzard could really learn from. Back when they did exciting pre-expansion launch events, the stuff was a tonne of fun. But lower level characters could only do so much. Then you have the joke that was Theramore, where it wasn’t even lower level characters who couldn’t do it -there were 85’s who were shit out of luck because of a stupid ilevel requirement. World of Warcraft events encompass anything but the world. Now, I get that things in Azeroth are very much about endgame. The system there has pretty much always been that way, regardless of whether you like pet battles, alts, or roleplay. The developmental emphasis still remains getting to the level cap and then truly playing the game. But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t adopt this philosophy on occasion.

Particularly when it pertains to the lore, and Blizzard wants to make us feel immersed. We all know Garrosh is the big baddy at the conclusion of Mists of Pandaria. I agree that only the truly Heroic (90, ilevel 1 bajillion) should get to face him and bring him down. But what if the Alliance and Horde have to push back the Sha as part of it? I mean, I expect our forces bringing violence and rage to the lands is just going to be a buffet for the dark energies and eventually that’s going to get out of control. Reigning that in could be open to anyone. You’re limited to the region of the battle, but while you’re in that region you’re level 90 regardless. If implemented in the same idea as Build Smores Too, I think things like that could work. The key is that you would have your abilities increased but wouldn’t learn the new ones between your current level and 90. That would likely result in you being able to help out, but still not as powerful as those higher because you may be lacking key spells. Doesn’t mean in a team atmosphere you can’t still succeed.

The bottom line is being able to take part in something, even for a weekend, regardless of your true level is a fresh feeling. It puts an emphasis on the fact you don’t need to race to the finish just to see everything. It can’t happen all the time in WoW, because the game is a different dynamic. But it certainly couldn’t hurt to do some of the time.

I hate to be the rain on the parade here, so to say, but I imagine the reason for level adjustments would be more based on the age of the game and the percentage of the playerbase who are at max level than anything. WoW is now 8 years old, and most of the player base has not one but several max level characters, or characters who were max level prior to must recent content, as opposed to this “other game” with merely a few months under its belt.

I agree the Theramore storyline was not handled to my full satisfaction, nor that of many. I agree the lack of world event was unfortunate, and a poor choice. I agree that an item level to participate in a world event is overkill, since that scenario was the extent of the world event.

However, world events have always had a progressive level of availability. There is a moderate amount of content available to low levels, and more content as you reach the max level. Most have dungeons that do have a item level requirement, because of the level needed and items available upon completion.

I am not saying in the least this is the only way to do it. But it seems farfetched to proclaim that because “another game” is doing X, which may purely be based on the percentage of their players who have obtained max level, that it should be the new mold.

I completely understand what you’re saying and I know we’re discussing apples and oranges as it were, but let’s face it: World of Warcraft continues to succeed by taking what other games do and putting their own spin on it (on top of their own development of course). This is something I think in a way is applicable just the same. Should it be full scale? No. I just happen to think there are cases where it could, and should, be applied.

I think any content that can reach more players and make them feel emersed is a good thing. I remember when I first started the game a level 60 hunter escorted my level 40 toon through several areas using Aspect of the Pack that I wouldn’t normally have been able to survive out in the wilds on my own. It made me excited for more content because of the glimpses of the endgame I hadn’t yet seen. I think if it were done correctly, it would be very cool.

The trick is…would they be able to pull it off without problems like CRZs?